A NEW play based on the Shrewsbury 24 is touring Dorset, calling in at Bridport, Dorchester, Poole and Lyme Regis.

The play is based upon the tale of 24 building workers who were accused of and three jailed for violent picketing and intimidating workers in Shropshire in 1973.

Written by Neil Gore, the production tells the story of how in the 1960s and 70s the UK’s building companies were making millions re-building the country, but building workers faced the most dangerous working conditions and poorest wages of any trade.

In the summer of ‘72, for 12 weeks, 300,000 building workers launched their industry’s first national all-out strike to end cash ‘lump’ wages and seek better pay by using the controversial tactic of ‘Flying Pickets’.

The partial success of the strike, and the methods used, enraged the construction industry and government, and culminated in the arrest of 24 builders in North Wales who were charged with offences including conspiracy to intimidate and affray.

The ‘24’ were prosecuted at Shrewsbury Crown Court in 1973 and three were jailed, including building workers Des Warren and Ricky Tomlinson.

The events surrounding the strike are still making headlines to this day, and 42 years on, the high-profile Shrewsbury 24 Campaign, led by picket-turned-actor Ricky Tomlinson is still seeking to overturn the unjust prosecution of the 24 building workers.

He said: “I am delighted The Townsend Theatre Company are presenting a play about the 1972 building workers strike, and the plight of the Shrewsbury 24 building worker pickets.

“It is 41 years since I, together with Des Warren and John McKinsie Jones, was charged with conspiracy and jailed. “We were charged with conspiracy, but we believe the real conspiracy was between the government, the building contractors and the judiciary.”

He added: “Every worker should know what happened to us so as to ensure it does not happen again.”

United We Stand is at Bridport Arts Centre on February 6, Lighthouse, Poole’s Centre for the Arts on February 7, Dorchester Arts Centre on February 13 and the Marine Theatre, Lyme Regis on Saturday, February 14.

Contact the relevant venue for tickets.